Abstract: Malaria has continued to be an endemic disease of the tropics and subtropics. Malaria in the newborn is a global public health challenge with a high mortality rate in developing countries. A descriptive retrospective study over a 5 years period (2006-2011) conducted at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. Information on Socio-demographic data, malaria parasite laboratory result and clinical information were retrieved from the medical microbiology departmental result registry. There was an overall 61% prevalence of malaria in neonates over the five years period with severe malaria occurring in 2.94% of them. Yearly Prevalence of malaria from 2006 to 2008 was 87.66%, 43.83%, and 70.74% respectively. There was about twelve percent decline in prevalence of malaria between 2009 and 2011 from 69.62% to 57.78% The study demonstrated a high prevalence of malaria in newborn in southern Nigeria, necessitating a need for high index of suspicion, early diagnosis, prompt and appropriate treatment to prevent neonatal mortality.Abstract: Malaria has continued to be an endemic disease of the tropics and subtropics. Malaria in the newborn is a global public health challenge with a high mortality rate in developing countries. A descriptive retrospective study over a 5 years period (2006-2011) conducted at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. Information on Socio-demograp...Show More
